Presidency’s Director of Communications Prof. Fahrettin Altun said: "We would never accept our citizens to be treated like terrorists for protesting CHP’s Party Leader due to the language he had used and the alliances he had made during the electoral period.”
Presidency’s Director of Communications Prof. Fahrettin Altun spoke to Okan Müderrisoğlu from Sabah Newspaper regarding the attack against CHP’s Party Leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu during a martyr’s funeral. Altun said: "The right to protest is safeguarded by the Constitution in our country. A legal process has already been initiated against those who resorted to physical violence, exceeding the constitutional limits during this incident. However, we would never accept our citizens to be treated like terrorists for protesting CHP’s Party Leader due to the language he had used and the alliances he had made during the electoral period."
Indicating that an undesirable event had taken place during the funeral of a contracted soldier, Yener Kırıkçı, who was martyred by the terrorist organization PKK, and the events took place at his funeral had come to the fore rather than the sorrow felt for the soldiers who had been martyred in a treacherous terrorist attack, Altun said: “"We feel sorry about the incident for sure. No form of violence is approved. We do not legitimize violence by calling it ‘revolutionary violence’ like some do. We do not hope for help from violence."
Noting that there was an important mistake to highlight, Altun stated it would be wrong to treat those who reacted to Kılıçdaroğlu yesterday like “a group of angry marginal people” or “an organized crime ring”.
Underlining they were actually the relatives of the martyr who gathered to attend the funeral of the brave soldier, Altun reminded that the brothers and sons of those people had been martyred by the terrorist organization that brutally took the lives of 40 thousand people.
Altun also made the following remarks: "Some may find it okay to support the political extensions of these terrorists and to ally with them because of their hatred for Erdoğan. However, the public definitely does not put up with this cooperation. He also said:
Those who treat the people as a forgetful mass that they can manipulate as they wish have to see that there is a real world outside social media where manipulations do not work that easily. If they think we would forget the struggle which carried us to the present day by claiming the lives of our brothers, sons and fathers as well as who we are struggling with, it shows they have become total strangers to the codes of this society.
There is an indescribable pain. Within such an atmosphere while such an indescribable pain is experienced, behaviours that will be a part of the tension unfortunately pave the way for this undesirable event.
The right to protest is safeguarded by the Constitution in our country. A legal process has already been initiated against those who resorted to physical violence, exceeding the constitutional limits during this incident. However, we would never accept our citizens to be treated like terrorists for protesting CHP’s Party Leader due to the language he had used and the alliances he had made during the electoral period. If the Leader of Atatürk's party is confronted with the reaction of the citizens at a martyr’s funeral in Ankara, he has to put his thinking cap on and review the situation. It is truly astonishing that any politician who receives this reaction treats the people as a “marginal group” instead of thinking about his own responsibility. Rather than asking "Why do I stand so far from the hearts of my nation", it is sad that he shakes his finger at the nation.
"No one can even attempt to equate terrorists to martyrs"
Noting that no one would want to see a politician fall into such a situation, Altun stated that it was so obvious that the incident was spontaneous and it was not planned.
Emphasizing the need to retrace to the source of social anger by keeping his/her composure, Altun added:
"The alliance of the CHP with the HDP, the political extension of the PKK terrorist organization, and HDP’s declarations stating that ‘we won’ after the election created a serious reaction in the majority of the society. How can Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu ignore that our solider was a martyr due to the attack of the terrorist organization for which he said before the election, 'Will they attack us? No.” It is clear that the attempt to establish a political alliance by neglecting the sensitivity of our society regarding terrorism will produce unintended consequences. It should be worked out to understand and overcome this uneasiness.
I once again recall that the event at the funeral is saddening. Everyone has to keep distance from violence. However those who stand up when angry reactions come from the families of martyrs, remain silent in the face of the brutal murders and massacres of the terrorist organization. We are convinced that our nation has identified this hypocrisy.” In addition, it is not possible to accept Kılıçdaroğlu’s acknowledgement that the reaction of the relatives of the martyrs is the same as the PKK attack against him in the past in Artvin. No one can even attempt to equate terrorists to martyrs. The event at the funeral has gone beyond its purpose and is a reaction that we do not approve, but equating the family whose son has been martyred, who are in great sorrow, who have paid a price for the star and crescent with PKK is an insult, a betrayal to the dear memory of our martyr whose grave is still fresh.”
Criticism of CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Kaftancıoğlu
Fahrettin Altun reminded that, CHP İstanbul Provincial Chairman Canan Kaftancıoğlu openly referred to the Gezi attempt with the words, “Spring has also come to the Gezi Park. Hail the beautiful eyed children of Gezi.”
Commenting that CHP İstanbul Provincial Chairman continued to give statements with her irresponsible attitude, Altun ended his words as follows:
“She mentions that a toxic language in want of a political gain is used, and that the owners of this toxic language are involved in this attack. What sort of a toxic language is the person who tweets ‘the state is not a just a killer, it is a serial killer’ for the Republic of Turkey, who says ‘the God you believe should also damn you’ to the civilians who stood against the July 15 occupation attempt is speaking of? In the same manner, not long after the election, a person who served as the Chief of General Staff in this country gave statements ignoring social sensitivities about the elections. This is a proof that he was in ideological blindness and that he had Stockholm syndrome. Following June 7, 2015, the country saw the heavy costs of considering terrorist organizations useful for political gains.
At this point we should not forget that everyone has a responsibility. It is saddening to experience such events in an atmosphere where our President just two days ago called on the people stating ‘It is time to embrace one another, clinch our unity and solidarity’. Irresponsible acts that would harm the peaceful atmosphere of Turkey should be avoided. We must avoid political discourses and behaviours that will produce tension through our common pains. We must all be in a sincere and common effort for an environment of peace and confidence.”